Covid alert: New Covid strain may not result in large wave of infections
According to a statement from the institute, XBB.1.5 has been shown to have a growth advantage in the US compared with previous variants, which means that it may outcompete other variants to become the dominant circulating variant in some settings.
“The growth advantage is thought to be due to a substitution in the spike protein that increases the binding of the virus to the human ACE2 receptor and therefore increases the transmissibility of the virus,” read the statement. The NICD said that, thus far, it was not known whether the severity of infection would be different from other Omicron sublineages.
“The World Health Organisation Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution is currently conducting an ongoing risk assessment of XBB.1.5. Due to the widespread circulation of other Omicron sublineages and the overall high population immunity in South Africa, the introduction of XBB.1.5 in our country may not necessarily result in a large wave of infections,” said the institute.
Early this week, Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the department and its entities had been monitoring developments: “Genomic surveillance has also been continuing. In December, there was an increase globally of 14.5 million new cases and 46 600 deaths reported, compared with November.”Phaahla added that Japan, South Korea, the US, China and Brazil represented 70% of the new cases. However, in the last week of last month, new cases had declined in all the above-mentioned countries, except China.
“There have been several media reports of overburdened hospitals and crematoriums in China during December and the early days of January, and this situation has caused a lot of panic in various parts of the world, including among some South Africans,” he said.In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy.
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